Obama Administration Shifting Anti-drug Policys Focus To Treatment And Prevention

In 1981, when President Ronald Regan came into office

, he inherited a major problem rampant and widespread abuse of drugs. It was no secret that the U.S. was struggling to curtail drug problems and the violent behavior that accompanies them, but Reagan put an exclamation point with his zero-tolerance policies. This included a 1986 crime bill that imposed mandatory minimum sentences for drug users and did away with the parole system, forcing them to serve at least 85% of their sentences.

It was the first time since the 1970s that this type of change had occurred with the legal system and how it handled drug users. And thats about to change again, thanks to President Obama and his administration, which believes that the penalties under Reagans programs invoked fear in people, it did little to help treat and rehabilitate drug abusers.

That is why the Obama administration is asking $10 billion from Congress to expand access to drug treatment programs. At this point in time, many drug rehabilitation programs are deemed too expensive. Theyre a privilege enjoyed by the rich and famous like Lindsey Lohan, but few people can afford to fork over thousands and thousands of dollars to enter drug rehabilitation.

The Obama administration believes drug addiction is a medical problem and deserves medical treatment rather than just throwing a person in a prison cell, expecting them to get clean. As one member of his administration pointed out, We cant arrest our way out of a drug problem.

The administration did point out that some parts of the current program appear to be working. The rate of illicit drug use in the U.S. is only one-third of what it was in the 1970s. They also report a 40 percent drop in the use of cocaine in the United States and a 50 percent decline in the use of methamphetamines, with both suggesting that promoting education and awareness have contributed to the cause.

They also report that illicit drug use has risen 60 percent among teenagers and that the public does not perceive marijuana to be addictive or dangerous. And of course the increasingly alarming rise of prescription drug abuse, which has skyrocketed over the last several years. And even more alarming is that its transcended traditional drug-use demographics to include stay-at-home moms, CEOs, and straight-A students.

These all indicate much work is still to be done. It all starts with a shift in attitude, one which you can see with the Obama administration. That is the first step. The next step is taking action.

by: Laine McKenna

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